Tashan

About the film

Tashan (transl. 'Style) is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language action masala film written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya in his directorial debut, and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. It stars Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor. The story follows a call centre executive, a gangster's aide, and a con woman involved in a chaotic pursuit across India.

Principal photography took place in Ladakh, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Haridwar, with additional sequences filmed in Greece.

Plot

Jeetendra Kumar Makwana, also known as Jimmy Cliff, is a call centre executive and part-time English tutor. He is approached by Pooja Singh, who requests private lessons. Jimmy quickly agrees, attracted to her, but soon discovers that the lessons are actually intended for her employer, Lakhan Singh Ballebaaz—also known as Bhaiyyaji—a volatile gangster with aspirations to speak English.

As Jimmy and Pooja grow closer, she reveals that she is working for Bhaiyyaji only to repay her debts and eventually travel to Haridwar to scatter her father’s ashes. The two conspire to steal Bhaiyyaji’s money and escape. They succeed, and Jimmy returns to his office to resign, only to be intercepted by ACP Kuldeep Singh Hooda, who warns him of Bhaiyyaji's violent history. Jimmy rushes back but finds Pooja has disappeared with the money.

Bhaiyyaji hires a mercenary named Bachchan Pandey to retrieve Jimmy. After Jimmy is captured upon having surrendered, the two travel together in search of Pooja, eventually reaching Haridwar. Although they spot her briefly, she evades them. During their continued pursuit, their vehicle crashes into a river during an argument. Pooja unexpectedly emerges from the car’s trunk, revealing she had been hiding there and that the stolen money is hidden in seven different locations across India.

Production

Tashan marked the directorial debut of Vijay Krishna Acharya, who had previously written for Dhoom (2004) and Dhoom 2 (2006). Pre-production began in late 2006, with the screenplay emphasizing a blend of action and stylized comedy.

The film continued Saif Ali Khan’s collaboration with Yash Raj Films following Hum Tum (2004) and Salaam Namaste (2005). It also marked a return to the studio for Akshay Kumar (Dil To Pagal Hai, 1997), Kareena Kapoor (Mujhse Dosti Karoge!, 2002), and Anil Kapoor (Lamhe, 1991).

Costume designer Aki Narula developed distinct looks for the lead cast to complement the film’s stylized tone.

Marketing and release

The first teaser for Tashan premiered on 30 November 2007 with the release of Aaja Nachle. In a poll by IndiaFM, the film was voted the "Most Awaited Movie of 2008."

The film was released theatrically on 25 April 2008 by Yash Raj Films in India and international markets.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics written by Piyush Mishra, Anvita Dutt Guptan, Vishal Dadlani, and Kausar Munir. It was released on 27 March 2008 under the YRF Music label.

The album received positive reviews from critics. Joginder Tuteja of IndiaFM rated it 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as consistently engaging and highlighting “Dil Dance Maare,” “Dil Haara,” and “Falak Tak” as standout tracks.

The soundtrack debuted at number three on the music charts and rose to the top position during the week of the film’s release. According to Box Office India, approximately 1.5 million units were sold, making it the ninth highest-selling Bollywood soundtrack of 2008.

Reception

Prior to release, Tashan recorded advance bookings of approximately 25–35% across major centres. On its opening day, the film registered 75–80% occupancy but fell short of expectations due to a revenue-sharing dispute between Yash Raj Films and multiplex chains, which delayed the film's release in major multiplexes across India. As a result, the film earned ₹180 million in its first week. Following a resolution between the distributor and exhibitors, the film was released in multiplexes from 3 May 2008, adding another ₹70 million to its domestic gross. It was ultimately declared a below-average performer at the box office.

Internationally, the film opened to a tepid response. In its first week, Tashan collected £181,838 on 46 screens in the United Kingdom, debuting at number 13. In the United States, it debuted at number 24 with a gross of $301,226 from 75 screens, while in Australia it opened at number 17, collecting $148,087 on 13 screens. The film witnessed significant drops in subsequent weeks and was also rated below average in overseas markets.

Tashan received mixed reviews from critics. In India, the film drew criticism for its screenplay and direction. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM rated it 1.5 out of 5, calling it “one of the weakest films to come out of the Yash Raj banner.” Rajeev Masand from CNN-IBN described it as “a road movie going in all the wrong directions.” Conversely, Sanjay Ram awarded the film 3.5 out of 5, noting that despite flaws, the film remained “engaging and entertaining.”

Key details